2019.x

Table Of Contents
3D Effect Parameters
565
Understanding 3D Parameter Hierarchy
Media Composer processes 3D effects parameters in a specific order. Knowing the order can help
you understand why something looks a particular way or why an object behaves the way it does on a
motion path.
The hierarchy of 3D effects parameters (from higher to lower) is as follows:
Lower parameters in the hierarchy, for example, Crop, do not affect higher parameters, for
example, Rotation. In an effect that has both rotation and cropping, for example, the same four
edges are always cropped the same way no matter what angle you select for the rotation.
Higher parameters always take into account lower parameters in the hierarchy when processing.
For example, before Media Composer rotates an object, it looks to see where the object is
positioned in the frame to display the correct 3D point of view with the new angle.
The final effect is always the same no matter the order in which you change parameters.
However, effects are easier to control if you build them from the bottom of the hierarchy up. If
you rotate an object, for example, and then move the axis (a lower parameter), your object might
jump off the screen. It is better to move the axis first, and then rotate the object.
Parameters operate as 2D, 3D, and post-transformation. All these choices affect the 3D path of
the object differently. 2D parameters, such as Scaling, are lower in the hierarchy and do not
affect the path through space. 3D parameters, such as Position, directly affect the shape of the
motion path. Post-transformation parameters, such as Target, move the entire path.
Axis
Axis moves the center of rotation relative to the image. There is no fixed rotation axis with an image.
The axis is independent of the image and is movable. For example, you can place the rotation axis in
the center of the image, on the edge, or off the picture. To move the center of rotation off the image,
you might find it useful to zoom out and activate the wire-frame handles. For more information, see
“Effect Editor Controls” on page 69.
Axis parameter category (left) and Axis button (right)
Target Higher
Perspective
Position
Rotation
Axis
Scaling
Crop Lower